Wanfo Lake Scenic Area is located in Wanfo Lake Town, Shucheng County, Lu'an City, Anhui Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a national water conservancy scenic area, a national geopark, a provincial-level scenic spot, and a provincial-level tourist resort. Integrating mountains, water, springs, stones, cliffs, pools, caves, forests, flowers, water conservancy facilities and cultural relics, the scenic area is known as the "Beidaihe of Anhui and the Back Garden of Hefei". The total area of the scenic area is about 300 square kilometers, among which the core scenic area covers 15 square kilometers, the lake surface area is about 50 square kilometers, the lake shoreline is about 205 kilometers long, the reservoir capacity is about 903 million cubic meters, and the water quality in the reservoir reaches the national surface water Class II standard. The kilometer-long dam in the scenic area, rammed with clay in the middle and reinforced with stone slope protection on the outside, is magnificent and was praised as an "extraordinary project" by Mr. Lanxi, the former chairman of the UN Dam Commission.
Historical and Cultural Background
Originally named Longhekou Reservoir, Wanfo Lake got its name because the main dam of the reservoir is located at Longhekou between Kaolao Mountain and Niutou Stockade. It is an integrated water conservancy project of the Pi-Shi-Hang Irrigation System, constructed in November 1958, and is one of the "Five Major Reservoirs" in western Anhui. The construction was suspended in April 1961, resumed in 1966, basically completed in 1970, and reinforced for danger elimination in 2002. The highest peak in the scenic area is "Laofoding" with an altitude of 1539 meters. At the foot of Danfeng Mountain below it stands a "Natural Stone Stele" inscribed with the four big characters "Wanfo Famous Mountain" during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, after which the reservoir was renamed Wanfo Lake. In 1994, the People's Government of Shucheng County promoted it to the outside world under the name of "Wanfo Lake" and signed a development agreement. After years of development, remarkable achievements have been made in tourism infrastructure, reception conditions, market development and industry management. The scenic area has also held many cultural events, such as the First Dragon Boat Race of Shucheng County in 1996, the 1998 Asian Triathlon Series and National Championships, and the 2002 China's First "Wanfo Lake Tourism and Culture Festival and International Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament".
Main Attractions
Longhe Tower
As the iconic building of the scenic area, Longhe Tower features the architectural style of the Ming Dynasty, covering an area of 3800 square meters with a height of 56 meters and 7 floors in total. Each floor is painted with pictures depicting Guanyin's cultivation practice. The 1st to 4th floors display calligraphy and painting works, the 5th to 6th floors exhibit cultural relics, and the 7th floor is the viewing layer. Climbing the tower, visitors can have a bird's-eye view of the Longshu land, overlook the main peak of Wanfo Mountain to the south, and the corresponding Longtou Pagoda to the north.
Zhou Yu Island
Located on the south bank of Wanfo Lake, Zhou Yu Island consists of many small islets, including Jin Garden, Ruizhi Garden, Zhiyin Garden and Lian Sandun, with Zhou Yu culture as the core. The island features the water stronghold of the Eastern Wu Dynasty and takes the growth story of Zhou Yu as the main line. Yujin Garden has a sacred chestnut tree, telling the story of "egrets raising Zhou Yu"; Ruizhi Garden has the legend of "Five Elders Presenting Treasures" and allows visitors to experience Zhou Yu's Study Building; Zhiyin Garden features "Qinse Meeting Bosom Friends" and the classic opera "Zhou Yu and Xiao Qiao".
Swallow Island
The island boasts bamboo art buildings, peacock gliding performances, Li Gonglin Calligraphy and Painting Museum, etc., and is a popular check-in spot for lovers of ancient-style Hanfu.
Dragon King Island
Climbing to the top, visitors can overlook 66 scattered islets. Next to the "Dragon-shaped Fountain" on the top of the mountain, you can take panoramic photos of the lake scenery with stunning light at 4 p.m. For those with insufficient physical strength, cable cars are available (one-way ticket: 30 yuan).
Recommended Tour Route
In the morning, you can take a lake tour around the islands. After purchasing the combined ticket of "admission ticket + boat ticket", take a boat to Swallow Island first to admire the bamboo art buildings and watch peacock gliding performances; have lunch at the restaurant on Swallow Island or the food street at the return pier at noon; go to Zhou Yu Island at 13:30 p.m. to explore the hometown of the famous Three Kingdoms general, check in at the "Straw Boats Borrowing Arrows" scene and Zhou Yu's Study Building; head to Dragon King Island at 15:00 p.m., climb to the top to overlook the lake view (take the cable car if you are tired); enjoy the sunset at Longji Bridge before returning at 17:00 p.m.
Travel Tips
- Pay attention to the weather in advance and prepare suitable clothes, sun protection and mosquito repellent products.
- There are many tourists during holidays, so it is recommended to book tickets and accommodation in advance.
- If traveling with the elderly and children, consider taking electric sightseeing cars to save energy.
- You can bring transparent umbrellas, fish food and other props to enhance the fun of the trip and the effect of taking photos.
Notes
- Abide by the scenic area regulations and do not randomly damage the scenic environment and public facilities.
- Take good care of personal belongings during the tour, especially in crowded places.
- Follow the staff's arrangements when taking boats and pay attention to safety.
- Smoke only in designated areas and do not litter.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Navigate to Wanfo Lake Tourist Center, where there is a parking lot. Reference prices: Free within 30 minutes, 15 yuan/day for small passenger cars (9 seats and below), 20 yuan/day for large passenger cars (more than 9 seats), and free parking for new energy vehicles for 2 hours a day (including charging time).
- Public transportation: First reach Shucheng County, then transfer to the bus to Wanfo Lake. For specific bus routes, consult the local public transport department.
Opening Hours
Open all year round from 08:00 to 17:30, admission stops at 17:00, and the latest time to board the boat is 15:30.
Ticket Information
Combined ticket (including admission and boat ticket): 125 yuan per person.
You can search the official WeChat public account "万佛湖5A景区" to get the latest updates.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.
